‘Informed speculation’

Dear Editor,

The editor of the Stabroek News in responding to a letter from the Chairman of Atlantic Hotel Inc, Mr Winston Brassington, published on 11th January, 2015, introduced a new practice of journalism, the reporting of “informed speculation”, to justify unsubstantiated, undocumented, unsupported reporting published as fact by his newspaper.

I expect this kind of reporting from the Kaieteur News, but Stabroek News! One, it is said, is, however, never too old to learn.

Yours faithfully,
Kit Nascimento

 

Editor’s note

The sentence in question was not presented as fact. It was as follows: “Observers say this arrangement may be unpalatable to the Hong Kong investors who would be at risk of losing their equity investment if the project failed.”

Informed speculation is perfectly acceptable in cases where there is a paucity of information as has been the case with the Marriott project for several years.

Perhaps in their next correspondence either Mr Nascimento or Mr Brassington might name an actual opening date for the hotel and expound on the status of the prospective Hong Kong investors, two of the key concerns raised in the SN news item.